Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On 15 December 2016, the Dáil ordered that the following Revised Estimate be referred to this committee for consideration: Vote 30 - Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the Revised Estimate and report back to the Dáil.

I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Michael Creed, and his officials here today. I thank the officials for providing the briefing to members of the committee. The proposed format of today's meeting will deal with Vote 30 programme by programme. At the outset the Minister will make an opening statement. There are four programmes and we will consider each programme separately, with questions from the members of the committee.

I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off as they interfere with the broadcasting services. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or an entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members have been circulated in advance with a briefing from the Department on the various programmes. We will now proceed. I call the Minister to make his opening statement.